French Open: Djokovic primed for deep run in Paris

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Serbia's Novak Djokovic serves during his match against Sweden's Mikael Ymer at the French Open. (AFP)
Serbia's Novak Djokovic serves during his match against Sweden's Mikael Ymer at the French Open. (AFP)

Paris - While 12-time champion Rafa Nadal remains the slight favourite, the damp and heavy conditions with a lower-bouncing ball appear to be tailor-made for Djokovic's precision style

By Reuters

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Published: Tue 29 Sep 2020, 11:49 PM

Last updated: Wed 30 Sep 2020, 1:59 AM

Top seed Novak Djokovic said he was 'physically, mentally, emotionally' ready to land a second French Open title after beginning his quest in emphatic fashion on Tuesday.
In his first Grand Slam match since being disqualified from the US Open this month for inadvertently hitting a line judge with a ball, Djokovic was supreme in a 6-0 6-2 6-3 first-round demolition of young Swede Mikael Ymer.
Some had suggested the Serbian world number one might suffer a reaction to his New York humiliation but he won the Rome title in the build-up to Paris and on Tuesday extended his season record to 32-1. His only 'loss' was the default against Pablo Carreno Busta in US Open fourth round.
While 12-time champion Rafa Nadal remains the slight favourite, the damp and heavy conditions with a lower-bouncing ball appear to be tailor-made for Djokovic's precision style.
"I actually enjoyed myself on the court today. I think I played really well," Djokovic, who was on his best behaviour throughout, told reporters. "A few hiccups here and there, but I think generally the game is there.
"I'm ready physically, mentally, emotionally to go deep in the tournament. Hopefully I can have another successful year here in Paris. I am definitely very confident."
After his New York trauma Djokovic's opening test in Paris was as stress-free as it gets and at times it looked as though he were playing an exhibition match, teasing Ymer with dropshots and lobs before pummelling exquisite baseline winners.
The first set was all over in 20 minutes.
"I thought I started off extremely well," Djokovic, who beat Andy Murray to win his one French Open crown in 2016, said.
"Six love, that's the best possible way to start a Grand Slam. Trying to get off the blocks very strong.
"You could see there is quite a few surprises in the first round. You know, you have (Daniil) Medvedev out, some big players. It tells a lot about these conditions."
RESULTS (Tuesday) 
1st rd
Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) bt Mikael Ymer (SWE) 6-0, 6-2, 6-3
Ricardas Berankis (LTU) bt Hugo Dellien (BOL) 6-1, 6-4, 6-4
Christian Garin (CHI x20) bt Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
Marc Polmans (AUS) bt Ugo Humbert (FRA) 6-2, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
Attila Balazs (HUN) bt Yasutaka Uchiyama (JPN) 6-2, 6-3, 7-5
Lloyd Harris (RSA) bt Alexei Popyrin (AUS) 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (9/7)
Matteo Berrettini (ITA x7) bt Vasek Pospisil (CAN) 6-3, 6-1, 6-3
Marcos Giron (USA) bt Quentin Halys (FRA) 7-5, 3-6, 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 8-6
Thiago Monteiro (BRA) bt Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO x31) 7-5, 6-4, 6-2
Dusan Lajovic (SRB x22) bt Gianluca Mager (ITA) 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 6-1
Kevin Anderson (RSA) bt Laslo Djere (SRB) 6-2, 6-3, 6-4
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) bt Harold Mayot (FRA) 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 7-5
Andrey Rublev (RUS x13) bt Sam Querrey (USA) 6-7 (5/7), 6-7 (4/7), 7-5, 6-4, 6-3
Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP) bt Steve Johnson (USA) 6-1, 6-1, 6-0
Pablo Cuevas (URU) bt Henri Laaksonen (SUI) 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE x5) bt Jaume Munar (ESP) 4-6, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4
Women
1st rd
Nao Hibino (JPN) bt Marta Kostyuk (UKR) 6-4, 6-0
Ons Jabeur (TUN x30) bt Zarina Diyas (KAZ) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
Clara Tauson (DEN) bt Jennifer Brady (USA x21) 6-4, 3-6, 9-7
Danielle Collins (USA) bt Monica Niculescu (ROU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-1
Elena Rybakina (KAZ x14) bt Sorana Cirstea (ROU) 6-0, 6-3
Fiona Ferro (FRA) bt Heather Watson (GBR) 7-6 (7/4), 6-4
Irina Maria Bara (ROU) bt Donna Vekic (CRO x26) 6-3, 6-4
Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL) bt Rebecca Peterson (SWE) 2-6, 6-3, 6-1
Ana Bogdan (ROU) bt Timea Babos (HUN) 6-4, 6-2
Sofia Kenin (USA x4) bt Liudmila Samsonova (RUS) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
Laura Siegemund (GER) bt Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) 7-5, 6-3
Julia Goerges (GER) bt Alison Riske (USA x19) 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-1
Sloane Stephens (USA x29) bt Vitalia Diatchenko (RUS) 6-2, 6-2
Paula Badosa (ESP) bt Kateryna Kozlova (UKR) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) bt Madison Brengle (USA) 6-2, 6-1
Karolina Pliskova (CZE x2) bt Mayar Sherif (EGY) 6-7 (9/11), 6-2, 6-4


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